Suspect Arrested Connected to North Bay County Murder Victim

Sheriff's investigators have arrested Philip Brock in connection with the death of 65 year old Terry Brazil. Brock is not charged with Brazil's murder, instead authorities are charging Brock with burglary and grand theft after finding him with Brazil's stolen car.

Investigators are still trying to piece together more information about the victim. They've found that many of his neighbors didn't know much about him and he was estranged from his family in Michigan.

Neighbors describe Brazil as a nice man though interactions with him were limited.

"Was there anything tat made you think he was bad company or anything like that?" News Channel 7 asked Robert Fisher, one of Brazil's neighbors.

"No, nothing. He couldn't have been any nicer. Just a nice guy...and that's about all I know about him," said Fisher.

Brazil was last known to be alive on December 11th, he missed a scheduled doctor's appointment. Doctor's reached out the Bay County Sheriff's Office to do a welfare check on Brazil. Upon arriving at his house, they didn't see any signs of forced entry, but when they found him, the realized he had been murdered.

"We feel certain that this is a homicide and we are working this as a homicide," said Capt. Jimmy Stanford with BCSO. "Investigators are at the medical examiners now with the autopsy and we'll know more about the cause of death hopefully soon, but we do know that he met his end by foul play."

Deputies still have not released a cause of death, but they do believe that robbery could have been the motive.

Deputies say the last time they can say for certain that Brazil was alive was two weeks before Christmas. His car was not the only thing stolen from his home, silver bullion, coins and several handguns are also missing. Officials at the BCSO say anyone who has been approached since December 11 attempting to sell those types of items should contact them at 747-4700 or Crime Stoppers at 785-TIPS.

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Friday Morning:

The Bay County Sheriff's Office has confirmed the identity of a man found dead Thursday afternoon in his northern Bay County home. Deputies say they found Terry Michael Brasil, 65 years old around noon.

They said the discovery came after a doctor's office called them Thursday morning asking for a welfare check, saying Brasil had missed several appointments. When deputies got to his home off Highway 167 and nobody answered the door, they went inside and found his body with indications that they said appear to indicate he was a victim of foul play. They also said he may have been dead for a couple weeks.

Then upon further search of his property they realized his car, a 1990 Cadillac, had disappeared. But they said they later found it, although it's not initially clear exactly where. Crime scene technicians spent the day collecting evidence and the medical examiner's office will conduct an autopsy.

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Thursday Afternoon:

Bay County Sheriff’s Investigators are in the northern reaches of the county this afternoon working a possible murder case.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a local doctor’s office this morning requesting a welfare check on a patient that had missed several appointments.

Deputies did a welfare check at the residence at 13836 Highway 167 in Bay County. No one answered the door so entry was made into the home. Inside, deputies found the body of a white male that appeared to have been in his 60’s. Positive identification of the body has not yet been made.

A preliminary examination of the scene indicates the possibility of foul play and the case is now being handled as a homicide investigation. The BCSO Crime Scene Unit is at the residence conducting a forensic examination of the scene. The Medical Examiner is also at the scene and there will be an autopsy.

A vehicle known to belong to the owner of the home and normally seen parked outside the residence is missing. A Be On The Look Out (BOLO) for the vehicle has been sent out to area law enforcement. The vehicle is a 1990 tan, four door Cadillac with Florida tag RH21A. Anyone with any information on this vehicle is asked to contact the Bay County Sheriff’s Office at 747-4700 or Crime Stoppers at 785-TIPS.

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